Employer and Skilled Migration Immigration Changes

May 4, 2017

On Tuesday 18 April 2017, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced significant reforms to the current employer (skilled) immigration framework.

In progressive stages, the ‘Temporary Skills Shortage’ (TSS) visa will be introduced and will be comprised of 2 streams:

Short Term Visa: 2 year visa, with a 2 year renewal option and no pathway to permanent residence through employment.

Medium Term Visa: 4 year visa, with pathway to permanent residence after 3 years of employment with the same sponsor, in the same position as a TSS holder.

According to the joint media release from the Prime Minister and the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, the changes have been designed to ensure that Australian workers are given the absolute first priority for jobs and to strengthen the training obligations for employers sponsoring foreign skilled workers and to strengthen the integrity and quality of migrants through a decrease of the age of eligibility for permanent residence, increased English language requirements and mandatory police checks. Lastly, restrictions are applied to certain occupations to ensure only “high-need” occupations are fulfilled through caveats.

Please find below, the comparative table of the two new visa options.

Comparative Table Short vs Medium Term Visa

Please see a list of useful resources, published by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection below;

Current Uncertainties

There are a number of proposed changes which have been announced, but have not been substantiated, as legislation, regulation and policy documents have not yet been published.

The current uncertainties pertain to the following issues:

Proposed changes to the training requirement for Standard Business Sponsors, and the introduction of the new training fund

Proposed review of the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT)

Parameters of the “grandfathering provisions” and pathways to permanent residence for current subclass 457 visa holders

Extent of changes to the occupation lists bi-annually

Renewal options for 2 year 457s offshore

Timeline of Skilled Migration Changes

Timeline – When do the skilled migration changes come into effect?

Trigger factors

If affected by one of the following trigger factors, you should contact PLAYFAIR immediately in order to explore your opportunities to remain in Australia.

Situations in which a Registered Migration Agent should be contacted immediately.

Given the nature of the changes, and the implications they may have on you – especially in relation to pathways to permanent residence – we provide the following options to re-strategize your immigration pathway in Australia: information sessions in Sydney and Melbourne and one-on-one consultations.

If you are concerned about your future visa pathways – give us a call and make a consultation appointment with us and we will advise you on your personal most suitable visa option.